Читать книгу Advent Of Darkness - Gary Caplan - Страница 9

It was slightly after the appointed meeting time when Gideon and Laurelin arrived at the Green Griffon Inn. It was growing dark, and the glow globes on the streets were activating. Briskly, they walked through the main entrance to the lobby of the inn and looked about. The Green Griffon was a very large inn, and one of its most famous features was Palrents Restaurant. The main hall was enormous. It had been sculpted from stone to look like a wooded glade, complete with trees, bushes, and flowers. Near the central region was a large fountain shooting water into many large stone basins. There were corridors leading to rooms from this uniquely and richly styled lobby. This was the main reception area. Several elves were working behind what would be a long elevated desk set into the stone wall on the far side of the entrance. To the right of the reception area were open double doors.

Gideon saw an elven headwaiter standing next to a podium, reading the list of guests who would be dining at Palrents. Beyond those doors was a large canopied area filled with chairs and tables. Sitting on two of those chairs near the reception area were Ragan and Cordlyer. They were busy discussing something as Gideon and Laurelin approached. "Sorry we're late," stated Gideon. "We both had some things to take care of, and it took longer than we thought."

"Think nothing of it," said Ragan with a smile. "We were just spending time planning until you arrived. We were discussing several things, including travel plans to Tetherin."

Gideon nodded. "Well, how do you like my clothes?"

Both Cordlyer and Ragan examined him closely. After a moment, Ragan said, "Well, everything looks all right to me, my boy. You look good."

"Well, my boots won't be ready until tomorrow." Gideon sighed. "So I'll just have to live with what I'm wearing now."

Then Laurelin piped in with "I met an old friend today in the White Dragon Inn and Tavern. His name is Glade Gilding."

Ragan's eyes narrowed curiously at this, and he said, "Glade Gilding, you say?"

"Yes," added Gideon. "And I invited him here. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no. I do not mind," said the Tauri. Then he looked at Laurelin and asked, "Tell me, Laurelin, did he tell you why he was in the city?"

"Why, yes, he did," replied Laurelin. "He told me he was here to report enemy activity in the area to the city defense minister, I believe. Seems that darkspawn have been seen in the Kingswood Forest Province and the Crystalpeak Mountains."

Not long after Gideon arrived with Laurelin, Glade Gilding entered the inn and strode smoothly to where the rest of the group was sitting.

Gideon saw him and said, "Well, well, speak of the devil! We were just talking about you, Glade."

"Oh ho! So this is where everyone goes on a midweek night," Glade said in a light tone. "Ha, I shall have to come here more often."

The headwaiter then approached Ragan and asked, "Is that everyone then, sir?"

"Yes. We will be seated now" was the Tauri's reply.

The headwaiter soon showed them to a large circular wooden table covered with a fine blue cloth and decorated with a large vase full of assorted flowers arranged in a centerpiece. The dining hall was adjacent to the inn's main hall and connected to it by a short passage. Here the patrons ate among the canopy of trees, huge stones, and interesting plants. There were many other people eating in this spectacular dining hall. Gideon noticed three of the reptile-men called Ikhsar he had seen earlier in the day eating at another table. He noticed other races as well. All the patrons were relatively well-dressed, even Ragan was wearing a crisp crimson robe and cloak with black-and-silver trim.

Within a few moments, the server, a beautiful, very well-proportioned young elf-maiden, came to the table and gave them each a menu written in two languages: Manya and Arabethic. Then she left to attend to her other stations. Gideon noticed that the menu had been printed on some sort of printing press. It also had slots in the entree section that could be removed and changed.

Within moments, the group was ready to order. Gideon could not get over the apparent beauty of these elf folks, especially the women. First, there was Laurelin, then the elven females he had discreetly noticed while walking in the city streets, and now, the inn's young serving women, each quite beautiful in a variety of ways.

After he ordered, Gideon leaned over to Glade and asked in a lowered voice, "Don't you elves have any ugly women?"

Glade just smiled brightly, a truly winning expression, and replied casually, "Yes, I guess we do, by our standards. But we elves don't judge by just physical appearance alone. We look at the inner self. For it is from there that one is either beautiful or ugly."

"Wow!" exclaimed Gideon in hushed exuberance. "A whole race of beautiful women! Just what a good-looking guy like me needs. This place is a paradise."

"Paradise?" asked Glade. "Hmm, so you like to revel, eh?"

"Yeah, I've seen some fine-looking women in my time, but these…" replied Gideon as he gestured over the women in the room, "these blow all of them out of the water."

"I take it that means that you like the way our females appear?" asked Glade.

"Uh, yeah!" replied Gideon.

"Then you'd probably like a visit to the temple of Aliantha, the patron of love," continued Glade with a smile. "Her acolytes live to please Aliantha's spirit, if you know what I mean."

"Would you two mind changing the subject, please," interrupted Laurelin, blushing.

"Oh," replied Glade. "Sorry, Laurelin." Then with a mischievous wink, he whispered, "We'll talk about this more later, eh?"

Gideon nodded, and the subject was dropped.

Gideon saw another side of the elves in Glade Gilding. Since his arrival on this strange world, most of the elves he had met seemed slightly prudish or reserved. Not Glade. In fact, he seemed rather to enjoy it. He also appeared to like humans too.

Gideon couldn't help it. He was beginning to like Glade.

Soon, the appetizers came. Cordlyer had shellfish from the Bay of Calenfalas, which, he told Gideon, was near where he grew up. Ragan had a melon garnished with a variety of succulent and colorful fruits. Gideon had vegetable soup, the chef's soup of the day. Glade had the seafood assortment, and Laurelin had a fruit salad. After that, there was a vegetable salad, prepared with a delicious house dressing.

Then the main courses were served. Gideon was still hungry from the afternoon walk, and he ate his roast quickly. Ragan called it an y'had, an animal similar to a deer on Earth. Cordlyer seemed to be enjoying his baked pheasant, or what appeared to be pheasant. From what Gideon could tell, all of the others had some type of bird for their meal. The dishes were served with an elegant presentation, each with at least one vegetable and some seasonal fruit. The portions were not overly large but were filling. As they ate, they talked about some of the things they did and things they saw during the day.

Gideon mentioned that he had bought a sword from Tain Ironfoot at Oakenbrand and Ironfoot's Forge and Craft Hall. Ragan seemed very interested by this, though he would not divulge the reason for his curiosity. After some wine, Gideon became more relaxed and began talking about some of the interesting clothes he purchased and the wonderful recreation center.

After the dessert, there was a fruit pie made from something that looked like blueberries. It was good, and they all found it quite filling.

Near the end of the meal, Ragan said, "Tomorrow, we must part company for a while. Cordlyer must rejoin his unit, as must Laurelin. I too have a pressing matter that must be attended to." Then he turned to Glade and asked, "Master Gilding, will you be busy for the next several weeks?"

Glade shook his head and replied, "No. Not that I know of. Why?"

Ragan suddenly grinned mischievously and answered, "Well, I've just received information from one of the morphandars of your section, Lord Talmor. He has granted me permission to call on your services as a guide and scout. I have urgent business to attend to elsewhere, and I would like you to assist me by taking Gideon to the city of Tetherin to visit the ancient pools."

Ragan was stretching the truth, he knew. However, no one but he knew that. He realized that separating himself from John Gideon for a little while was the best thing he could do. He knew that there were certain individuals who were very interested in knowing his whereabouts and with whom he kept company. These people could be dangerous, both to Gideon and his mission. He knew he would eventually have to leave Gideon when he had learned enough to protect himself. He liked the boy and would miss him when that time came. However, Gideon needed to make new friends and allies, those who would help him in the days and years to come.

"Why am I taking John to the Pool of Tetherin?" asked Glade. "He looks well enough to me. Is he sick?"

"Yes, why is he taking me? I thought you were going to do it," said Gideon. He felt as if a lifeline had just been cut and he was drifting. He began to feel he was being stranded.

"Easy, my young friend, I am not abandoning you. I may yet be going as well. At the very least, I will meet you there. I must attend to some Tauri duties and Red Lodge business. We have a few things to do tomorrow, and you will have to be ready to leave Mindon the next morning." Ragan looked to Master Gilding and said, "Glade, I hope you can manage the necessary arrangements for the long journey."

"Well, I suppose I could," hedged Glade.

"Come along, Glade. You know the roads to Tetherin as well as I do, if not better, since you've been into that region more recently. Of course, I want Gideon safely delivered there. If anyone can accomplish that, you can."

"It has been over a year since I've been that far into Urzan, but if Lord Talmor has granted approval for this, then I will go," stated Glade.

"Excellent! It's settled then," stated Ragan.

Glade tried to think of something else to say, to clear himself of this task as he did have some personal things to finish, but Cordlyer cut in by saying, "Perhaps, I could join Master Gilding and Master Gideon after I attend to my duties with the Order of the Platinum Griffon. My father is interested in some of the western activity reports from our order and has requested that I visit our installations in Urzan. As you are aware, the Order of the Platinum Griffon has many facilities, including those in Temelian, Tetherin, and Noordlinden. Another reason is Tetherin is near some of the more populous Dwarro lands, and it would be a good idea to visit one of the dwarven cities and discuss military proposals with some of their lords as a representative of the Order of the Platinum Griffon."

"Yes. That is a marvelous idea," remarked Ragan enthusiastically. "Well, now that is done, it's time for Master Gideon to get some rest. He and I have an appointment tomorrow. Earlier, I arranged for rooms, and by now, they are all prepared. You may pick up your room keys at the front desk so you may turn in whenever you wish. Good night." And with that, the wizard excused himself and left for his sleeping chamber.

Gideon was feeling tired and wished his dinner companions a good evening. Laurelin was polite; she smiled at Gideon and then started to talk with Glade and Cordlyer as soon as he left the room.

Ragan would spend little time sleeping since he did not require sleep like others. He hummed a melody as he went to his spacious suite. Palrents had some special rooms reserved for those Tauri who visited. Ragan was actually a higher being and would only meditate this evening, spending time communing briefly with those of his order and other familiars. The others chatted in the dining room for a few more minutes and then followed Ragan's example, for tomorrow was going to be another busy day.

The next day found Gideon feeling refreshed. He had slept more than he wanted. His room was adjacent to Ragan's and was like a small suite. He should remember to thank Ragan for the first-class treatment. He had been having some gastrointestinal problems a few times during the past several days. The food at Palrents seemed to be exceptionally tasty and more palatable, but he still was not fully well. Gideon had few recollections of sickness of any kind when he was on Earth; his foster parents always told him he had the constitution of a horse. That might be why he was not yet having serious problems with this very different food. After showering in a waterfall-like shower, shaving, and performing other morning tasks, he went downstairs to the dining area and saw Ragan and Glade casually eating the remains of a late-morning meal.

Ragan was reading a printed pamphlet similar to a small newspaper. Gideon thought again that it was an interesting technical mix in this society. Evidently, Laurelin and Cordlyer were not present. Ragan informed him that Cordlyer had eaten early while he attempted to finish writing a chapter in an arcane spell book as one of his tasks for the Order of the Platinum Griffon. He then left to go back to the keep of the gilthanal of Mindon. Laurelin too left early to continue with her Order of the Horn duties or activities. Gideon was a little upset that he did not get the chance to see them, especially Laurelin, of whom he had grown quite fond.

After breakfast, Ragan paid Caelborn, the proprietor of the Green Griffon Inn, personally. He also reserved rooms for himself, Master Gilding, and Gideon for the following evening. Then, he and Gideon set out for Master Balminewe's house to keep the appointment.

In the meantime, Glade began his preparations to gather supplies for the journey to Tetherin and began to arrange the manner of travel.

When Ragan and Gideon finally reached Balminewe's home, his wife politely escorted them into the laboratory. "Greetings, Archmage Ragan," said Balminewe as he mixed two liquids together in a blown-glass bowl. "I have acquired most of the necessary ingredients for the elixir, and I will check with the apothecaries later on today to obtain the other remaining ingredients."

"Excellent," said Ragan. "This is John Gideon, the fellow who will be needing your elixir. Gideon, Master Balminewe is going to need a sample of your blood and your intestinal fluids for analysis so he can make an effective elixir of amnoxillin that will be concocted specifically for you."

"Why do you need a sample of my intestinal fluids?" asked Gideon, a bit concerned. He did not like the idea of people prying into his internal organs.

"I do not know your background; if you are unaware, there are many small creatures, which we call planoi, that inhabit our insides and other locations," replied Balminewe. "I must make sure that I do not make a derivative of amnoxillin that will totally destroy them. They are part of your digestive system, and I do not wish to upset its balance, only modify and improve your ability to handle fluids and foods. A standard noxillin will give you tolerance; amnoxillin will enhance and strengthen with a lasting effect. Some on the continent I know use poisons and toxic fumes to injure others not of their order or group. I will modify and strengthen your digestive system with this version."

"Gideon, I can easily make a noxillin," stated Ragan. "However, I required someone with Balminewe's skill, discretion, and resources to make the amnoxillin due to time constraints. It is not something made often since the Alor do not require such elixirs, as they are more adaptive. These types of potions are used for visitors from, for example, our sister world, Seytheyr, or for visiting Traq traders who stay for some time."

Gideon could understand this. Recently, he had been suffering from bouts of diarrhea and indigestion, and Ragan had mentioned something to him about a protective spell that he placed on him while he slept. These were little problems at first but had become somewhat more notable. In addition, the sensation of heaviness had not left; however, Gideon seemed to have developed some strength to compensate.

"I see," said Gideon hesitantly. "Well, let's get it over with." Master Balminewe then swabbed his arm with a cleansing wipe soaked in some sort of fluid and then proceeded to extract Gideon's blood from a vein with a small silver needle attached to a suction device. Balminewe noted that to extract a sample of intestinal fluid would be somewhat painful. He then muttered an incantation, and Gideon felt as if he were floating. Then Balminewe touched Gideon's stomach, and he felt a strange sensation.

"Can you feel any pressure or pain?" he asked, pinching Gideon's abdomen.

"No, I can't," replied Gideon. "It's numb. I can't feel a thing."

Balminewe then applied an alcohol-smelling salve and inserted another very thin silver needle into Gideon's abdomen. Gideon winced slightly, but soon, after a few minutes, he had extracted enough fluid to run his tests." Balminewe applied a solution to the area of the puncture, and it seemed to immediately heal.

"There," he said. "With these samples, I can begin to prepare the elixir. Stop by here again in the morning tomorrow. The amnoxillin elixir will be ready by then."

"We shall, Master Balminewe. My thanks for your cooperation," replied Ragan. Then to Gideon, he said, "Now, let us attend to your shoes. They should be ready by now."

When they reached the shoemaker's shop, they found him busy, so they waited a few minutes. Finally, the shoemaker was able to attend to them. "I'm here to pick up my shoes," stated Gideon.

"Ahh, yes," answered the shoemaker. "Just a moment, please, I will get your wyvern-hide boots with the slip-proof bracing straps." The shoemaker went to the back of his shop and came out a moment later, brandishing two magnificent brown boots, whose texture slightly resembled a cross between cowhide and alligator skin.

Gideon took off his sneakers and put the boots on. They were extremely comfortable, and they looked good too.

"Well," he asked, "and how do I look now?"

Ragan studied him carefully and then replied, "I must admit, Master Gideon, that you don't look at all bad. It must be the shoes. In fact, you could pass for a lord."

Gideon smiled modestly. "You think so?" he asked.

"A little, but I think that it's all in your attitude, which by the way, I think is quite amiable. Continue proceeding in this course, and I foresee only greatness in your future. Mark my words," finished Ragan.

Again, Gideon smiled. He had been on this new world only a short time, but during that time, he had made influential friends and, unfortunately, influential enemies. He liked this world more each day. On Earth, he was a normal fellow; sure, he was doing quite well in graduate school and would be finishing his PhD in another year. He was considered the best student on the university's martial arts team. However, here on this world, he was important in some way, and his new friends made him feel important. That made him glow deep inside with a fire of passion and adventure that could not be suppressed.

Ragan thought Gideon should get a sorcerous device of some kind for protection and, perhaps, one to augment his natural abilities. He made a reference to the fact that part of the way to Tetherin was still a wild region. The two went back to where the artificer's guilds made sorcerously imbued devices. Ragan even suggested that they could go visit the master artificer Tain Ironfoot's forge again if he wanted. Gideon decided to stop in a few of the other shops and stores and look around. In one, an elven artificer was busy arranging some cloaks he had recently enchanted.

"Do you have any protective cloaks?" asked Ragan.

"Yes, I have three. I have recently completed their enchantments," replied the elf. "It took me a week to make each since I had handsewn the fibers."

Gideon looked at the elf. He noticed that he was tall, almost as tall as Ragan, and wore a combination of robes and vestments with arcane symbols in Manya, indicating his craft and station as a senior master wizard and a specialist of crafting sorcerous devices of several types. "What do they protect against?" asked Gideon.

"This one," stated the master crafter proudly, "is thrice enchanted and will offer protection from basic to intermediate levels of spellweavings. It is made of blue-dyed wool. The second is doubly enchanted with general protection and will protect the wearer from fire and frost directed at his person. It will also maintain your warmth against temperature extremes. It is made from wool dyed medium gray. And finally, I have a greenish-gray cloak that is doubly enchanted for protection and will allow its wearer to blend into his surroundings, acting to prevent detection. If you have the time, I am qualified to fill an order enchanted to your specifications."

Gideon said, "No need. I've already decided I'll take the greenish-gray one."

"An excellent choice, sir," said the craft master. "The price is twelve thousand gold sovereigns."

"Come now," said Ragan. "We will pay you eleven thousand two hundred gold sovereigns."

"Eleven thousand four hundred, good Tauri, if you please," countered the artificer.

"Oh, very well. The cloak is of excellent quality," admitted Ragan. "Eleven thousand four accepted."

Gideon paid him from his borrowed coin purse. Ragan noted that he was able to count the coins and bars by himself and understood the monetary values. It seemed someone had given him an education in money.

The artificer helped Gideon put on the cloak to wear. It covered a voluminous area and had deep pockets sewn inside. As they left the shop and headed down the street, Gideon asked about the people who made these sorcerous devices. Ragan said, "Every artificer here is a highly trained senior master wizard or high adept and has had, in addition, advanced education and skills in a specialty. In this case, artificery is the creating, imbuing, and enchanting of sorcerous weapons, armor, and other devices."

"The master enchanters are another sorcerous specialty branch that devises miscellaneous enchanted devices. Even though they are full-fledged masters or senior masters, however, these crafters are not as likely as me to get involved in a duel arcane as it is, or go on quite as many dangerous outland excursions. The only exception for these crafters is a quest for various special materials for their crafting. It takes a daring and bold personality to risk one's life by traveling to distant and unfriendly lands, especially during these times." Ragan and Gideon moved down the street, and Ragan gave Gideon a tour of Mindon from his nostalgic point of view. Because of Gideon's interest, Ragan even discussed some basic spellweaving theory and the importance of names. At the end of the long day, Glade Gilding met up with the two, and all three went into their inn for the evening meal. Gideon came away with a sense that Ragan was quite ancient in years, but he did not inquire about his age, thinking that it would not be polite.

The next day, Ragan, along with Master Gilding and Gideon, got up early and visited Balminewe. The group entered the house and was escorted into Balminewe's office. He had the amnoxillin in a large glass vial that was sitting next to what looked like a type of microscope.

"I must administer one dose into your system directly, and you will have to take the rest of the elixir orally from the vial in two portions. Take one of the doses this evening and one in the morning. I was able to tailor the dose. You will not need as much as is usual for someone from another world. During my analysis, I found that you already seem to have some of the necessary natural protections as if you had an elven ancestor," said Master Balminewe. Glade stood to the side and looked as if he wanted to ask Ragan a question but contained the desire.

Master Balminewe removed a needle that was attached to a glass tube with a plunger. "Now, I have to apply a small tourniquet to expose your arm veins." Balminewe cleaned an area of skin and then inserted the needle in Gideon's arm and into a prominent vein. "Do not worry. I have done these sorts of injections for other processes on many before you." He rubbed a salve over the injection site. Gideon felt a warm sensation and saw the wound rapidly disappear.

"Thanks, Master Balminewe," replied Gideon. "Uh, would you clarify what this elixir will do for me again?"

"To be brief," said Balminewe, "the amnoxillin will modify and strengthen the digestive system. Essentially, it is used for those visitors with less capable physiologic defense systems. It will inoculate you with multiple resistance to our planoi. Since you appear to be a man and come from another world, you may pose a hazard to the other menfolk you meet here, and you could make one of my people a temporary carrier who might infect a few humans or others indirectly. Ragan indicated that he has limited your exposure to others and has used protective energies upon you. Oh, one more thing, this elixir will also act as a laxative, so your system is cleaned out."

Glade looked at Ragan quizzically, wondering what he had gotten himself involved in.

"Thank you again," said Ragan, and the group left Balminewe's estate and proceeded to the southwestern section of the large city, where the transportation skyships docked between flights. On the way out, Glade asked Ragan a question in his people's dialect. "Tauri Ragan, is Master Gideon not from Illúmaril?" Ragan looked at Glade and realized he could not tell a falsehood, so he decided to give a partial answer in the woodland dialect as Gideon was looking at the pretty ladies walking in the street.

"His family is descended from Illúmaril, but he has not been here before and requires some aid and augmentation," replied Ragan with a tone indicating that would be all he would say. Glade nodded. Knowing Ragan, he realized that by his tone and manner, he did not wish to discuss the matter further at this time.

Glade took a different road, stating he would meet them at the aerodrome. Ragan stopped along the way twice and talked briefly with another Tauri and, later, a member of the Red Lodge. He did not share what he said and seemed slightly secretive about the events. Gideon even had a small pastry while he waited for Ragan to finish his conversation, a conversation that he could not overhear.

A few short hours later, they met at the appointed rendezvous point at the skyship aerodrome where they found Cordlyer waiting for skyship departure. Gideon was happy to see Glade Gilding, who was sitting and writing a letter as a young courier waited. Sitting impatiently beside Glade Gilding were three dwarves. One was the artificer and weapons master Tain Ironfoot, whom Gideon had met earlier and told of the ship they were taking toward Urzan. One was introduced as Grimbold Greyhelm, Tain's cousin on his mother's side and a skilled craftsman and blade master of Khagmar Province, as well as an excellent jewel smith. Tain introduced his partner and cousin on his father's side as Sim Oakenbrand, the lord of the city of Vespgrod; he was a renowned master crafter and artificer from Urzan Province. All were returning home to start another crafting session. The skyships of Illúmaril, Lord Sim informed him, were fast—so fast, in fact, they should be near the border of Urzan in a little over four hours, for these skyships could travel at over eighty leagues an hour. He actually seemed to be ready to enjoy the ride, unlike his other Dwarro relatives.

A short while later, a beautiful swan-shaped skyship appeared and glided elegantly into the docking area, its sails billowing in the gentle breeze. It was huge and white, and crystalline portals glistened on its hull. Its beauty impressed Gideon. Just as the ship sailed in, Laurelin Leaflock and some members of the Order of the Horn arrived along with their mounts. Soon, everyone was onboard, and all his or her provisions placed in the cargo hold. Then, the dockhands loosed the moorings, and the great white ship lifted itself into the sky and moved toward the clouds.